Here comes another irresponsible flood insurance crisis (editorial ...

MEMO TO Congress: Hurricane season starts June 1, so please don?t let the federal flood insurance program expire.

We know that waiting until the last minute is standard practice in Washington, D.C. And we know that Congress has a hard time agreeing on anything these days, let alone taking action that would move the nation forward.

But the flood insurance program expires (again) on May 31. People who have existing policies are still covered, but no new policies can be issued. Also, no new home sales can be closed in places where flood insurance is required.

This isn?t the first time Congress has put flood insurance in peril. The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America notes that in 2010, the program lapsed four times, and flood coverage could not be purchased or renewed for a total of 53 days.

The U.S. House of Representatives has voted for a 30-day extension, which is better than nothing, but the Times-Picayune of New Orleans reports that some fancy maneuvering will be required in the Senate to have a chance of getting the extension to President Barack Obama in time.

One Louisiana congressman, Rep. Steve Scalise, counts 17 extensions of the flood insurance program since 2008. Since a series of hurricanes in 2004 and 2005, including Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina, the failure of premiums to cover the billions of dollars of payouts has generated much talk of overhauling the program.

Yet Congress just keeps on creating flood insurance crises and generating emergency extensions.

Part of the problem is the attitude of members of Congress like Rep. Candice Miller of Michigan, who wanted to repeal the whole federal flood insurance program.

She tried to compare it with ?the government takeover of health care,? according to the Times-Picayune. (It must not flood in Michigan.)

Gulf Coast residents know how important the flood insurance program is to homeowners and the economy. People in places like Nashville, Tenn., have learned how devastating flooding can be outside of hurricane country.

Maybe if Congress didn?t sit on a hill, its members would be more interested.

santorum drops out bby zimmerman website miami marlins marlins marlins facebook buys instagram